Between Healthcare Practitioners and Clergy: Evangelicals and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

Jeanine P. D. Guidry (), Carrie A. Miller, Paul B. Perrin, Linnea I. Laestadius, Gina Zurlo, Matthew W. Savage, Michael Stevens, Bernard F. Fuemmeler, Candace W. Burton, Thomas Gültzow and Kellie E. Carlyle
Additional contact information
Jeanine P. D. Guidry: Media + Health Lab, Robertson School of Media and Culture, Virginia Commonwealth University, 901 W. Main Street, Suite 2216, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Carrie A. Miller: Department of Public Relations, STEM Translational Communication Center, College of Journalism and Communications, UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Paul B. Perrin: School of Data Science, Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
Linnea I. Laestadius: Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53205, USA
Gina Zurlo: Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Hamilton, MA 01982, USA
Matthew W. Savage: School of Communication, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
Michael Stevens: Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Bernard F. Fuemmeler: Massey Cancer Center, Department of Health Behavior and Policy, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
Candace W. Burton: Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Thomas Gültzow: Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
Kellie E. Carlyle: Department of Health Behavior and Policy, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-12

Abstract: Evangelical Christians are among the most hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine. This study examined the extent to which COVID-19 vaccination uptake among Evangelicals is explained by demographic characteristics, Health Belief Model constructs, and faith-based support factors. Survey research firm Qualtrics recruited 531 U.S. adults and conducted a survey to explore predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among people who self-identified as Evangelicals in September 2021. A logistic regression showed that those reporting high perceived benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine were more likely to be vaccinated, while those reporting high perceived barriers were less likely to be vaccinated. Those whose healthcare provider asked them about the vaccine were more likely to be vaccinated than those whose healthcare provider did not ask. Finally, while those who reported information seeking from religious leaders were less likely to be vaccinated, those who reported more faith-based support for vaccination were more likely to be vaccinated. In addition to beliefs about benefits and barriers to vaccination, the role of healthcare providers and clergy were important factors influencing vaccination status. Intervention efforts that capitalize on partnerships between health providers and clergy in supportive congregations may be able to reach undecided Evangelicals.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine; evangelicals; health belief model; healthcare providers; vaccine hesitancy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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